Who said that there are no arguments in music? On the contrary, the never-ending “competition” is an inseparable part of music itself, be it between instruments, within the dynamics or through the phrasing. In a solo concerto, a virtuosic soloist duels with the accompanying orchestra, and all being well, in the end, everybody wins! Browse our sheet music and scores, and explore all concertos from all eras with Stretta today!
The word “Concerto” is derived from the Latin term “concertare”, which means to dispute, contend or fight, while the same word took on a completely opposite meaning in Italian, to harmonise. The term was initially used for sacred choral compositions with bass accompaniment. First the Italian baroque composers Alessandro Stradella, Giuseppe Torelli and Arcangelo Corelli began to compose in the instrumental form that we now call “Concerto Grosso”. It consists of a small group of solo instruments, a “Concertino”, and a larger accompanying orchestra, the “Ripieno”, with basso continuo.
In the high baroque period, the first solo instrumental concertos began to appear, with a classic three-movement structure, for one, but sometimes for two or more instruments. The master of this form was without a doubt Antonio Vivaldi, from whose pen, to this day, 447 concertos have survived, 226 of them for violin. Vivaldi’s best-known concerto is his violin concerto Four Seasons. Both Bach and Handel are also well known for their concertos.
The solo concerto was also very popular in the classical period. All great composers who were accomplished pianists or instrumentalists wrote solo concertos, often for themselves, but also for other contemporary virtuosos, here are a few great classical solo concertos:
In the romantic period, almost all major composers devoted themselves to solo or double concertos of all kinds. Here are a few romantic favourites:
for: Cello and String Orchestra
Score
Item no.: 265249
for: Viola, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 393062
for: 2 horns, string orchestra, harpsichord
Score
Item no.: 262682
for: Flute, Violin, Basso Continuo
Score
Item no.: 263059
Violinkonzert (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Violin, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 603193
(Urtext)
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 582829
Klavierkonzert (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Piano, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 375726
K. 412
for: Clarinet, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1282072
for: Bassoon, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1555916
for: Violin, viola, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 656255
for: Flute, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 687648
for: Double bass, concert band
Score
Item no.: 925031
for: Violin, string orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 161511
for: Flute, harp, orchestra
Piano reduction, Solo part(s)
Item no.: 382498
A selection an arrangement of piano pieces by Handel
Aulós 225
for: 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, organ
Score
Item no.: 697411
for: Violin, string orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 636147
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 313064
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1215632
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 330265
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 263157
for: Flute, String Ensemble and Organ
Score
Item no.: 262692
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 389512
MusikPartner - Klassik zum Mitspielen
Urtext
for: Viola, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part, Playback-CD
Item no.: 608532
for: Oboe, strings, basso continuo
Set of parts (Strings)
Item no.: 410200
for: 2 pianos
Piano reduction
Item no.: 358703
edition pro salon
for: Violin, cello, piano (piano trio)
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 761990
for: Harpsichord solo, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1555629
for: Flute, chamber orchestra
Score (spiral binding)
Item no.: 666753
for: Flute, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 163647
From the opera "Emma und Eginhard"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 280739
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 175126
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 175123
for: Violin, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116553
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 140994
for soprano or descant recorder, strings and 2 horns ad lib.
for: Descant recorder, strings; 2 horns ad lib.
Score
Item no.: 128730
for: Violin, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 352279
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 187267
for: 2. Violine
Stimme, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 213199
for: Orgel solo
Stimme, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 555943
for: Piano, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392000
for: Trumpet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 576886
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 357168
for: Violin
Sheet music
Item no.: 262588
for: Violin, String Ensemble and BC
Score
Item no.: 262950
for: Cello, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 389506
for: 2 horns, string orchestra, harpsichord
Score
Item no.: 262586
for: Violin, Organ, String Ensemble
Score
Item no.: 263057
for: Ottavino ['Flautino'], Strings and Basso Continuo
Score
Item no.: 389493
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